North Korea-China Border Violence Escalates

According to Chinese authorities, soldiers on the border with North Korea shot and killed a man Thursday who was trying to illegally enter the country. Apparently the individual refused calls to stop and was killed while trying to escape across the border. Analysts note that this is just the latest incident on the China – North Korea border, as a growing number of desperate, and in some cases starving, North Koreans are attempting to flee the country.

More on China – North Korea border shooting

This most recent border shooting on Thursday morning comes after several violent episodes related to North Koreans entering China. Back in December of last year, a North Korean soldier murdered four Chinese villagers, then was shot while in custody by Chinese security forces. After that incident became public, other incidents were also revealed, including a family of three killed just over the Chinese border by a deranged North Korean civilian.

Political analysts point out that China is North Korea’s only real ally, and typically remains mum regarding any crimes committed by impoverished and desperate North Koreans who come to China looking for food and/or money.

The announcement of the border shooting was made via the blog of the village of Helong. The statement provided no further details about the shooting or the identity of the man who was killed.

The increasing violence along the border with North Korea has resulted in growing criticism in China that the government should take more steps to protect Chinese citizens from marauding North Koreans. Chinese government-controlled newspaper the Global Times ran an article in January arguing that a lack of transparency by the government meant that the South Korean media had scooped the news of border killings ahead of Chinese outlets. The article also suggested that China was clearly being too accommodating toward its neighbor.

North Korean soldier went on rampage killing three Chinese in December of last year

The Chinese government formally complained to North Korea in January about the killings by the rogue soldier. Ties between the two countries have grown cooler over the past two years as the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has not shown the same interest in fostering relations with China as his father, Kim Jong-il. But Beijing is also reluctant to push Pyongyang too hard out of concern that it could set off instability or even a collapse of the North Korean state.

As reported by ValueWalk earlier this week, the South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper claims that villagers living in homes between the cities of Hyesan and Musan on the Chinese border have been forced to leave and resettled several miles back from the two rivers that create a between the countries.

The article also notes that a major new road was built along the North Korean side of the border after the local residents were moved out. The report continues to say that villagers whose homes were destroyed were promised extra food and a new home if they cooperated with the government resettling effort.